The name social work often implies voluntary
service. This might make one feel as to what kind of career
option does one have visa-avis social work.

Most colleges have a National Service
Scheme (NSS) Progarmme. While the degree of activeness may
differ from college, I would be a good idea to participate
in short term or even more intensively in long-term projects.
The work would involve taking up projects like tree panting,
visiting social welfare organization, fund raising, organizing
blood donation camps, etc. Being a student the time factor
needs not deter you from actually going out there and gaining
valuable experience. You can utilize your after-college hours
to great advantage.

There are types of voluntary
work, which one can do; there are organizations, which run
centers for the handicapped, the aged and the destitute. You
could read aloud books or newspapers to the inmates, help
organize private donations of books, clothes and toys, or
just spend some time cheering up or playing with the inmates.

Career Options:

In order to join a course in Social
Work, it is advisable to start early and preferably with a
Humanities background. Secondly, it is also advisable that
the person should have a knack to help people and not look
at it as a mere profession. After successful completion of
the course, one has multiple options in terms of job and vocation.
It depends on the candidates as to what suits him better.

Job Opportunities:

After passing out from college, one
can choose various options for job and each sector is equally
promising. It depends on how well you score at a particular
field or organization. Some of the places are listed below,
where job opportunities are available:

Government Sector

Non-Government Organizations

International Initiatives.

Consultancy:

The business of consultancy is a growing
phenomenon. People after attaining considerable experience,
go in for consultancy for a particular field. The work involves
guidance to social workers, offering them with skills and
expertise in planning procedures. The honorarium given to
consultants is quite high and the person has flexibility of
work.

Career Prospects:

As social work emerged as a profession
very recently so there is no clear-cut career graph. But with
large-scale participation of various Non Government Organizations,
the career prospects of a professional social worker is increasing.
Even the government sector is putting in a lot of money especially
for the development of various rural development projects.
Emerging fields like ecological development and awareness,
community development, forestation and AIDS education are
some of the new areas, which are opening up.

Remuneration:

There is no composite pay parity vis-à-vis
Social Work. Estimates says that for a fresh post-graduate
in MSW, joining a NGO would fetch a salary of Rs. 4000 per
month and the figure would increase with experience and performance.